On Thursday, October 9, 2025, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Semarang State University (FMIPA UNNES) held a Curriculum Benchmarking event for the Physics Education, Chemistry Education, and Biology Education Study Programs in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia.
The event, held on the 2nd floor of Building D12, FMIPA UNNES, aimed to strengthen academic collaboration and ensure alignment of the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) curriculum, which is oriented toward sustainability and has a real impact on society.
The event was attended by the study program coordinators within FMIPA UNNES, namely:
- Dr. Bambang Subali, Koordinator Program Studi Pendidikan Fisika,
- Dr. Sigit Saptono, Koordinator Program Studi Pendidikan Biologi
- Dr. Agung Tri Prasetyo, Koordinator Program Studi Pendidikan Kimia
- Arif Widiyatmoko, S.Pd., M.Pd., Ph.D., Koordinator Program Studi Pendidikan IPA S2
- Prof. Dr. Ani Rusilowati, Koordinator Program Studi Pendidikan Fisika S2
This activity was facilitated by Dr. Ellianawati, M.Sc., who also served as a liaison between the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at UNNES and the Faculty of Education at UiTM Malaysia.
In parallel discussion sessions, experts from UiTM provided various constructive input and recommendations for strengthening the curriculum for each study program.
Physics Education Division — Dr. Norezan Ibrahim from the UiTM Physics Department assessed that the UNNES Physics Education curriculum has a strong and comprehensive structure, encompassing graduate profiles, CPL (Competency-Based Professional Development), and sustainability values. He recommended that the semester curriculum be presented more systematically to demonstrate competency progression from basic to advanced and to clarify the relevance of CPL within each course.
Chemistry Education — Prof. Dr. Sharipah Ruzaina binti Syed Aris from the Chemistry Department of UiTM emphasized that the UNNES Chemistry Education curriculum has a solid philosophical foundation and aligns with the principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). She recommended strengthening bilingual teaching, integrating digital technology and artificial intelligence, and implementing pedagogical reflection and international networks to broaden the curriculum’s impact.
Biology Education — Zulinda Ayu binti Zulkipli, M.Sc., and Dr. Al ‘Aina Yuhainis Firus Khan from the Biology Department of UiTM praised the structure of the UNNES Biology Education curriculum, which aligns with CPL, is conservation-oriented, and oriented toward research and biological entrepreneurship. Recommendations included simplifying pedagogical courses and adding elements of globalization and cross-disciplinary collaboration, such as Bioinformatics for Educators and Global Biodiversity Policy.
All participants agreed that the benchmarking results serve as a crucial foundation for refining the UNNES 2025 Curriculum: Outcome-Based, Sustainable, and Impactful Curriculum. This collaboration also strengthens the position of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at UNNES as a center of excellence for conservation-oriented science education at the international level.
The event concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a commitment to follow-up actions, including the development of joint curriculum enhancements and the exploration of academic mobility opportunities between FMIPA UNNES and the Faculty of Education at UiTM Malaysia. Through the spirit of cross-border collaboration, this event affirmed FMIPA UNNES’s commitment to continuously producing outstanding science educators and researchers with integrity and global competitiveness.
